Friday, August 20, 2010

Found a 'Golden Hands' book in the Op Shop the other day. It is actually one of those folders with the weekly part magazines. I couldn't leave it there even though I thought it was a little over priced.....yesssss....anyway - we grew up with these. Mum's Golden Hands collection. It was a major part of my 'Craftucation', so much so that when I looked through this copy every page was very familiar to me.....well why else would one spend too much at an Op Shop unless it makes you all warm and fuzzy inside?

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

It has taken me many hours to create a website that looks simple and flows and I still have a few links to fix and I need to load more pictures but mostly it is done. I used Wix because it is free and easy to use especially if you know nothing about html and the like. So here it is My Crochet Basket. Hopefully I will have others for other types of crafts but this is a good start I think....

Sunday, August 8, 2010

I have finally started an Etsy shop called ApplePaper. I've been wanting to do it for ages, crocheting lots of stuff but not listing it anywhere - yeah that's me! I've got three listed to start with but when some of my Trademe auctions finish I will move them here too. This one is based on the 'Boy Beanie' from 'Stitch 'n Bitch' - The Happy Hooker - I have done a few of them and I'm really happy with how they turn out. The top can look a little bumpy while you are making it (like it has corners that don't belong there) but it the end it has a nice round fit just like a beanie should.

When I'm just winging it (making it up as I go along). I tend to gravitate towards a hexagonal shape like this Newsboy Cap from Drops which I love making too. I don't really like the texture in the pattern so I just leave it plain but the basic pattern is suitable for adults and children and I have tried it in several types of yarn too. I just judge as I'm going along how big it should be on top and how tight around. Without using a pattern and with my aversion to measuring gauge my hats usually come out all different sizes. I only measure properly if I am making one for a particular person....

This one is crocheted with really nice Super

Chunky Wool Blend yarn. It feels really cuddly and is really big and slouchy. The one below is crocheted with two starnds of 100% DK Wool. One strand of Dark Pink and the other is a mid Purple. The result is still chunky and textured but is obviously a lighter weight hat and also looks nice for an adult or child.

Friday, August 6, 2010

I found this cool website some time ago when I was looking at Paper Cutting sites. You can design a snowflake online and preview it. Then you can save it to their gallery and even download yours or someone elses design from the Gallery. The download, however, is just the finished Flake and not the folded one which would be useful if you wanted to cut it out yourself (of course you could work out what cuts are necessary to re-create a design you see in the Gallery). Anyway, it is fun to see what designs you can come up with and doesn't waste paper or make mess...Make-a-Flake

Thursday, August 5, 2010

I had been looking for large size crochet hooks for a while (in NZ) but finally had to buy some off ebay. This was my first ever ebay purchase and may have opened up a can of worms but anyway they arrived in the mail quite quickly and are really cool.

The ladies in the local Wool Shop looked at me blankly when I asked about them and even Spotlight had nothing. Trademe was no good and searching NZ crochet suppliers didn't work so it seems that New Zealand crocheters are a bit behind the times - well as far as experimenting with huge hooks goes anyway. Either that or they are buying from overseas like me?

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Just rediscovered this blog whan I was trying to set up my Wix website. I thought I'd better not clutter it up with chatter so here we are .....

Yes - looking back at my previous comments....Grace will start school in 2011 so I may end up going back to work but I have been working on many craft ideas and gathering tools - mostly via birthday and christmas presents from my generous sisters - and I am working on a website to display some of my stuff and perhaps get some of it sold....

Friday, June 30, 2006

....three Tom Cats came knocking at the door. One had a fiddle, one had a drum, one had a tin can tied to his bum! ...I'd forgotten that little rhyme - Sharon reminded me when we were trying to think of things mum used to say. I was surprised that I didn't really come up with much when I googled it. If anyone has heard that version, I wouldn't mind knowing the rest of the rhyme if there is anymore.

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About Me

I am a 'stay at home mom' well for a bit longer anyway. My youngest is four and will be off to school next year. I live with my husband and three kids in Pukekohe which is close enoough to Auckland to have to pay their rates but not close enough to feel like you are part of the rat race...